I've been in the hobby for close to forty years. Nothing quite prepares you for the sight of one of your favorite pets suddenly dead. I found my zonatum "Big Blue" dead in his tank this evening when I got home. No signs of illness. Nothing to indicate he was anything but his nasty loving self last night. Just dead. It's happened before to fish...and in the back of my mind I know he was just a fish.
As near as I can figure I had him for ten years give or take. Without a doubt he was arguably the gold standard for the species. I've taken literally thousands of photos of the fish. He was on the cover of magazines, the topic of articles, part of my presentation and hands down my best aquatic model. He gave me hours of pleasure over the years...and I've had hundreds of e-mails asking questions about the species and the fish...but still...just a fish. I don't get weepy over their passing, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I feel a little hole in the pit of my stomach tonight when I lose one that meant something.
Here's the last of the photos that I processed. I took some more that I will look at later, but I liked these.
And one that I took, almost got rid of and thought, "Nah...that's pretty much how we interacted. Him posing and me shooting photos.
Coincidentally...I just posted old photo of Jumbo's passing in another thread. I had no idea I would be saying good by to the Blue Beast.
As near as I can figure I had him for ten years give or take. Without a doubt he was arguably the gold standard for the species. I've taken literally thousands of photos of the fish. He was on the cover of magazines, the topic of articles, part of my presentation and hands down my best aquatic model. He gave me hours of pleasure over the years...and I've had hundreds of e-mails asking questions about the species and the fish...but still...just a fish. I don't get weepy over their passing, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I feel a little hole in the pit of my stomach tonight when I lose one that meant something.
Here's the last of the photos that I processed. I took some more that I will look at later, but I liked these.
And one that I took, almost got rid of and thought, "Nah...that's pretty much how we interacted. Him posing and me shooting photos.
Coincidentally...I just posted old photo of Jumbo's passing in another thread. I had no idea I would be saying good by to the Blue Beast.
